Has anyone else wondered-

[ruffburr]

If this default/shutdown goes on we will see the end of the dollar as the default currency in the world?

[CanonRay]

1. I think that is a distinct possibility

and possibly even if we don't default. The Chinese have been talking about a basket of currencies to use instead, and our stupidity will throw fuel on the fire.

[Squinch]

2. Uh.... YEAH!

[Capt.Rocky300]

3. It's possible but I find it odd that gold prices are declining.......

past experience has shown gold to be a haven during uncertain economic times but not now.

[nadinbrzezinski]

4. Short answer is yes

long, you got a PM

[gateley]

5. Yep.

[Motown_Johnny]

6. Yes, but the trillion dollar coin worries me even more.

If we start doing that then I see no reason why the rest of the world would continue to use the US Dollar.

I also see no end to it. If the (R)s force Pres. Obama to mint one of them, then why would they ever give in? They would force another and another and another endlessly.

It really is a mess.

[Laelth]

7. Not so long as oil is traded in USD.

When oil is de-coupled from the dollar, we will be in big trouble.

-Laelth

[Agnosticsherbet]

8. Posted that a while back, expect runaway inflation due to the piles of dollars

in the vaults of every country in the world. $1,000.00 for a gallon of milk, and a pickup bed full of cash for a bag of groceries.

No, it won't be pretty.

[melody]

9. Then we should probably all just commit suicide

Thanks, that tells me what I need to know.

[Agnosticsherbet]

10. If you feel that way call a help line.

There are real world bad consequences that would come from this.

[melody]

11. Not in comparison to what you're describing

I'd sooner be dead.

You people don't consider those who must face, quite literally, a very difficult future if the scenarios you are drooling over come to pass.

[Agnosticsherbet]

12. I'm not drooling. I'm not a Republican Congressman. But it could be very bad

and we all should be aware of the possibilities. History is instructive.

[melody]

13. You were describing certainties -- what IS going to happen

That should be kept in mind. At any time 25% of the population is suicidal. What may seem like a cool "end of the world" challenge to some is the end to others.

[Agnosticsherbet]

14. Only a crazy survivalist with a pile of gold, a mound of rations, and an arsenal

would view this as a cool "end of the world challenge"

[melody]

15. Hyperbole on that point

However, my other points stand.

How do YOU plan to survive with $1000 for milk, etc?

[Agnosticsherbet]

16. The way people in the Weimar Republic, a number of African and South American

nations survived massive inflation. By scratching, scrimping, and fighting for food. I have a yard big enough to grow a bit of food and several fruit trees. Ir will be a monotonous diet, we will lose weight, but we will survive. Especially if I could get a co op going with neighbors. I could do it like my grandfather did when he lost his farm in the depression, ride a hundred miles to apply for a job.

Hyper inflation won't last forever, but it is a very real possibility, and it has happen many times before. I haven't seen statistics on suicide under episodes of Hyper Inflation, but I don't think it was as high as 25%.

Looking at history and seeing what has happened in similar situations is an important skill.

Again, I am not one of those people who shut down the government and are now saying that not raising the debt limit is a good thing that will do not real harm.

[melody]

17. Growing food won't do any good for most of us in the meantime

I have many friends on disability who simply aren't able to do those things.

My point being, not everyone is going to be able to "just manage" -- we're talking about a doomsday for many people.

And you might consider tempering the certainty of the night scenarios.

[applegrove]

18. Reddit had an article on that. I didn't

read it but imagine that every country in the world would rethink all of their financial dealings with the US, including whether to use US currency.